Porsche should be selling bumper cars

[SpokeyDokey]

I have this theory that a lot of the decisions we make as drivers or riders are done by the lizard brain that has kept us and our remote ancestors safe for millions of years. A large object approaching quickly gets more of our attention than a small one approaching slowly. It's simple self-preservation. People rarely pull out in front of lorries and buses, sometimes in front of cars, often in front of motorbikes and very often in front of bicycles.

Many years ago there was an article in Car magazine that was along the lines that you state. Many safety decisions are not the result of conscious thought.

 

[Tin Pot]

I have this theory that a lot of the decisions we make as drivers or riders are done by the lizard brain that has kept us and our remote ancestors safe for millions of years. A large object approaching quickly gets more of our attention than a small one approaching slowly. It's simple self-preservation. People rarely pull out in front of lorries and buses, sometimes in front of cars, often in front of motorbikes and very often in front of bicycles.

The "lizard brain" is a fantasy, and people have died prematurely for hundreds of thousands of years.

However I agree with the rest.

 

[Tin Pot]

Could be that. I've started to think it's about shape recognition. There's people that can manage to not notice a whacking great horse pootling along the road because they're so tuned to trucks, buses, cars etc.

Shape and movement.

One problem with drivers is that the cyclist shape is meaningless from an evolutionary perspective.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Shape and movement.

One problem with drivers is that the cyclist shape is meaningless from an evolutionary perspective.

Should be ok in a million years or so.

 

[Profpointy]

Should be ok in a million years or so.

no because it's not the drivers being killed

 

[Tin Pot]

no because it's not the drivers being killed

Unless we make cyclists explosive. And wear yellow and black stripes.

 

[mustang1]

I haven't read this thread for a while. Could someone give a summary so I could quickly catch up? I saw someone above mentioned butt plugs.

 

[screenman]

It is either two wheels good four wheels bad, or two wheels good four wheels better.

Where does that leave Dell Boys carriage?

 

[donnydave]

The "lizard brain" is a fantasy, and people have died prematurely for hundreds of thousands of years.

However I agree with the rest.

I think "lizard brain" refers to the limbic system which I'm fairly sure is a real thing and is always ticking away in the background, making decisions and filtering what gets through to your conscious brain.

On the subject of hazard perception that came up earlier - have you read the fighter pilot thing applied to road driving? Very interesting http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/

 

[RichardB]

The "lizard brain" is a fantasy, and people have died prematurely for hundreds of thousands of years.

However I agree with the rest.

If you take 'lizard brain' as a colloquial term for the part of the central nervous system that controls basic life-maintenance and survival instincts, in what sense is that a fantasy? Of course people have died prematurely, but I don't think I said they didn't, so I am not sure what your point is. Should I have said 'safer' rather than 'safe'?

 

[Tin Pot]

I think "lizard brain" refers to the limbic system which I'm fairly sure is a real thing and is always ticking away in the background, making decisions and filtering what gets through to your conscious brain.

On the subject of hazard perception that came up earlier - have you read the fighter pilot thing applied to road driving? Very interesting http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/

Yeah, but I think the problem is more what people are looking for. The mechanics of the eye and perception aren't new to me.

The article would be correct if people are looking for the end of the the road and skipping over cars and bikes in the way.

I'm more inclined to believe the issue is that they are looking for cars, because pulling into a car might kill them. As they look for cars they miss "irrelevant" images like motorbikes, and cyclists. Perhaps they "skip" over them too, but I don't see how they'd evidence that.

MRI scans support the theories around load induced blindness, though I don't have a link to hand.

 

[Tin Pot]

If you take 'lizard brain' as a colloquial term for the part of the central nervous system that controls basic life-maintenance and survival instincts, in what sense is that a fantasy? Of course people have died prematurely, but I don't think I said they didn't, so I am not sure what your point is. Should I have said 'safer' rather than 'safe'?

Lizard brain has connotations of a distinct consciousness which you may not have meant, but there is literally no reason I can understand for people not to use autonomic nervous system which is descriptive, accurate and not full of...well anyway it's not you I'm criticising it's the phrase! I hate it. Always have, always will. Even "ID" is more paleatable(!) because at least everyone knows it's crap! In short...

It's a load of crap from the 60s.

 

[Tin Pot]

I haven't read this thread for a while. Could someone give a summary so I could quickly catch up? I saw someone above mentioned butt plugs.

Yeah, @Over The Hill admitted he was entirely wrong all along, cried a bit and promised to be good from now on.

In response, we've agreed to put in a good word with Father Christmas.

 

[RichardB]

Lizard brain has connotations of a distinct consciousness which you may not have meant, but there is literally no reason I can understand for people not to use autonomic nervous system which is descriptive, accurate and not full of...well anyway it's not you I'm criticising it's the phrase! I hate it. Always have, always will. Even "ID" is more paleatable(!) because at least everyone knows it's crap! In short...

It's a load of crap from the 60s.

Hmmm. What I meant was 'autonomic nervous system'. As a non-specialist, I thought lizard brain meant almost the same thing, but obviously not.

Anyway, the part of our body that deals with immediate threats to our survival without bothering the thinky bits.